Night Head Genesis

ANIME REVIEW

Night Head GenesisGenre Horror, Mystery, Science fiction

Plot

Due to their paranormal abilities, two young brothers (Naoto and Naoya) are cast out by their parents and given into the custody of a research center. They escape fifteen years later, and soon learn that they will play a pivotal role in the coming "Upheaval".

"...It is said that 70% of the human brains' capacity is left unused. It is thought that the amazing powers that humans possess are hidden within these parts. That unused 70% of the brain is also known as...Night Head."

Main Characters

Kirihara brothers

Naoto

Kirihara Naoto is a powerful psychokinetic. Naoto can exhaust himself, physically, by using his psychokinetic power beyond what he normally uses. He also possesses the ability to communicate telepathically with his younger brother, Naoya. Naoto is fiercely protective of Naoya, being the elder of the two and because of Naoya's innate power. Naoto is the more self-assured of the two and has a more fiery temper. When angered, Naoto often strikes out with his psychokinesis - most often destroying nearby objects. He often helps Naoya every time he sees a traumatic vision (like the case with the young girl who looks and acts like a doll and lives in what they called the 'doll house'). Naoto fears the destructive potential of his abilities. Naoya did not agree to this, saying that there is a meaning in them having these powers and that he could not do anything without his brother. Still, it haunts him (especially the event when he killed 3 people sent out by Ark) and this became his weak point in which Mikumo is more than happy to use against him, killing Naoto in the process. He comes back from the dead after hearing Naoya's call for help. Naoto could have been with Kanako Kurahashi, a scientist. Both of them had seen an image of a future with them together, but the thought of a life without Naoya caused Naoto to turn her down when she asked if he would live with her.

Voiced by Toshiyuki Morikawa

Naoya

Kirihara Naoya is a clairvoyant, telepath, seer and also has the power to heal. Naoya's abilities are a source of great suffering to him - physical contact with people or objects can trigger traumatic visions. Naoya is sometimes left in a state of catatonia after a particularly shocking vision. The only person who does not have this effect on him is his elder brother, Naoto, who is 6 years older. He calls Naoto "Nii-san" - meaning "elder brother" when he grew older but back when he was a kid, he calls him "Nii-chan". Naoya relies on Naoto in many ways. Naoya often stands behind Naoto, using him as a shield to discourage physical contact with others. When their powers were fully awake, he experienced what Shouko had gone through - overcoming the physical self and become a spirit-like being (it is shown like he was standing outside of Earth, watching over it) which causes him to disappear from time to time. Naoya tells this to Naoto, that he experience everything and seen everything when he was there, he also discover where their estranged parents are. This made Naoto very worried and thought that Naoya will leave him too, just like what their parents did to them when they were young. Naoya assured him that he will stay with his brother in this side of the world. As a child, Naoya would go so far as to follow behind Naoto - holding onto the back of his jacket. Shinji Takeda, who played Naoya in the original "Night Head", provides the opening narration.

Voiced by Akira Ishida

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